Kiosk, system and method for the pairing flowers and vases

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a kiosk, system and method for pairing flowers and vases. The system includes a vase having a vase sticker. The vase sticker has a trim length printed on the vase sticker. The vase sticker also is color coded. The color code indicates a trim length and vase volume. The consumer selects a bouquet of flowers that matches the vase volume. The consumer then trims the flowers to the indicated trim length. The consumer then places the flowers in the vase and has a flawless, professional design look. The confidence this provides the customer to select flowers increases the quantity of flowers purchased from a self-service floral department.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority on provisional patent application, Ser. No. 60/936,413, filed on Jun. 20, 2007, entitled “Complement Design System”, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A number of stores have self-serve floral departments. The biggest loss for any floral department is the waste associated with flowers that go bad before they are purchased. It has been found that a number of consumers lack the confidence and talent to match flowers and a vase to achieve a professional design look, causes them to experience frustration or disappointment when they do-it-themselves. As a result, a number of potential consumers do not purchase flowers from these self-serve floral departments.

Thus there is a need for a system and method that makes it easy and flawless for consumers to match flowers with a vase.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a kiosk, system and method for pairing flowers and vases. The system includes a vase having a vase sticker. The vase sticker has a trim length printed on the vase sticker. The vase sticker also is color coded. The color code indicates a trim length and a vase volume. The consumer selects a bouquet of flowers that matches the vase volume. The consumer trims the flowers to the indicated trim length. The consumer then places the flowers in the vase and has a flawless, professional design look. The confidence this provides the customer to select flowers increases the quantity of flowers purchased from a self-service floral department.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of vase with a vase label in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bouquet of flowers in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a bouquet label in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a ruler and flowers in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a vase with flowers in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a kiosk for pairing flowers with vases in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a kiosk, system and method for pairing flowers and vases. The system includes a vase having a vase sticker. The vase sticker has a trim length printed on the vase sticker. The vase sticker also is color coded. The color code indicates a trim length and vase volume. The consumer selects a bouquet of flowers that matches the vase volume. The consumer then trims the flowers to the indicated trim length. The consumer then places the flowers in the vase and has a flawless, professional design look. The confidence this provides the customer to select flowers increases the quantity of flowers purchased from a self-service floral department.

FIG. 1 is a perspective of vase 10 with a vase label 12 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The vase 10 has vase label 12 that includes a trim length 14. The trim length 14 may be color coded. For instance, the color yellow may indicate a trim length of eight inches. The color code is also shown in box 16 of the vase label 12. The trim length is determined by the dimensions of the vase 10. The vase 10 has a vase volume that is also indicated by the color code.

FIG. 2 is a bouquet of flowers 20 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Commonly the bouquet of flowers 20 or flower arrangement are wrapped in paper 22. The bouquet of flowers 20 have a certain volume, called the flower arrangement volume. The flower arrangement volume will be indicated by a label either affixed to the paper 22 or on a sign next to the bouquet of flowers 20. The label 24 will be color coded to indicate the flower arrangement volume.

FIG. 3 is a bouquet label 30 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The bouquet label 30 will have a number of trim lengths 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42. The trim lengths 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 will be color coordinated, so blue indicates a trim length of eighteen inches, red indicates a trim length of twelve inches, etc. In addition, the group of colors blue, red, yellow, green, orange, pink indicate a volume of flowers. Another group of colors, such as aqua, cyan, magenta all indicate a second volume of flowers. Thus, a consumer selects a vase 10 that suits their esthetic tastes. The vase 10 has a vase label 12 that is color coded red for instance. With this information, the consumer finds a bouquet of flowers 20 having a bouquet label that contains red as one of the trim lengths. If the bouquet of flower only shows aqua, cyan, magenta trim lengths then this bouquet of flowers does not have a volume of flowers that matches their vase 10.

FIG. 4 is a ruler 50 and flowers 52 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In order to trim the flowers 52 to the correct length the consumer is instructed to measure the flowers 52 from the top 54 of the flowers to the indicated trim length on the vase label. The consumer then cuts the stems 56 at the trim length using a ruler 50 and scissors. This ensures that the length of the flowers 52 are the correct length for their vase 10. The final result is shown in FIG. 5 where a perfectly arranged group of flowers 52 are displayed in a vase 10. The flower arrangement has the correct volume for the volume of the vase 10 and the correct trim length for the vase 10.

FIG. 6 is a kiosk 60 for pairing flowers with vases in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The kiosk 60 has a housing 62 that has a plurality of shelves 64. A video display unit 66 is attached to the kiosk 60 and plays instructions on how to select a vase and corresponding bouquet of flowers. Then the instructional video explains how to trim the flowers to the correct length. On the shelves 64 are displayed a plurality of vases 66 with labels 68. The purpose and function of the labels are explained on the instructional video.

Thus there has been described a system for pairing vases with a bouquet of flowers that results in a profession floral arrangement every time. The confidence this provides the customer to select flowers increases the quantity of flowers purchased from a self-service floral department.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alterations, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations in the appended claims. 

1. A system for the pairing of flowers and vases, comprising: a plurality of vases having a plurality of different shapes; a plurality of different flower arrangements; and a vase sticker attached to one of the plurality of vases, the vase sticker having a trim length and a color code on the vase sticker.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vases have at least two different vase volumes.
 3. The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of different flower arrangements have at least two different flower volumes.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the color code on the vase sticker indicates a correspondence between one of the vase volumes and one of the flower volumes.
 5. The system of claim 4, further including a flower arrangement sticker attached to one of the plurality of different flower arrangements.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the flower arrangement sticker includes a color code that indicates the correspondence between one of the vase volumes and one of the flower volumes.
 7. The system of claim 4, wherein the color code indicates a trim length.
 8. A method of system for the pairing of flowers and vases, comprising the steps of: selecting a vase having a vase sticker; selecting a flower bouquet having a plurality of flowers; trimming the flowers to trim length indicated by the vase sticker to form trimmed flowers; and placing the trimmed flowers into the vase.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of selecting the flower bouquet includes selecting a volume of the flower bouquet to match a volume of the vase indicated by the vase sticker.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of selecting the vase includes selecting a vase sticker with a trim length indicated.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of selecting the vase includes selecting a vase sticker with a vase volume indicated.
 12. The method of claim 10, further including the step of selecting a color to indicate the trim length.
 13. The method of claim 11, further including the step of selecting a color to indicate the vase volume.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of selecting the flower bouquet, includes the step of placing a bouquet sticker on the flower bouquet.
 15. A kiosk for the pairing of flowers and vases, comprising: a housing having a plurality of display shelves, one of the plurality of shelves displaying a plurality of vases having a plurality of different shapes; a video display a playing an instructional video attached to the housing; a plurality of different flower arrangements; and a vase sticker attached to one of the plurality of vases, the vase sticker having a trim length and a color code on the vase sticker.
 16. The kiosk of claim 15, further including a plurality of rulers on one of the plurality of shelves.
 17. The kiosk of claim 15, wherein the plurality of vases have at least two different vase volumes.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of different flower arrangements have at least two different flower volumes.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the color code on the vase sticker indicates a correspondence between one of the vase volumes and one of the flower volumes.
 20. The system of claim 19, further including a flower arrangement sticker attached to one of the plurality of different flower arrangements. 